Hello. In June 2019 I had a cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery. The gallstone pain finally made me pursue surgery. Since I was moved to a hospital bed post-op, the new - and however possible, worse - pain began. I was in the ER twice in two months post-op. I have been to a University hospital more times than I can count, with so many X-rays, ultrasounds, etc. I finally gave up they would solve this pain issue after seven months and exhausting any money I had left. I partially work from home and hoped the worst spasms and mule-kick-to-the-diaphragm pain would happen at home, as the event would last up to 24 hours, and they still do today.

06/2019 Post-op: Spasms are ALWAYS happening, like rhythmic waves, and are very light. Few are still intensely painful, and come out of nowhere. Feels like a lightning strike inside from 3 cm right of the xiphoid process, down to half way point of the right quadrant. Like being punched hard in the diaphragm non-stop. Still can’t breathe deeply without the punched feeling. One of the worst was trying to pretend everything was fine when I was on a flight and the spasms began - I did not want to be on the news for an emergency flight diversion. That was intense.

Last week was suddenly the worst event I’ve experienced. I woke up, had a glass of water, began to prepare breakfast for the kids, and was hit hard. After 12 hours of writhing on the floor, cursing and praying, my resolve not to spend anymore money on a high medical deductible gave out. Pain became incapacitating and absolutely intolerable. Having a high Pain tolerance I can put up with a lot, and have had work injuries that caused excruciating pain - this was the limit of my tolerance. I Waited 12 hrs to go in but couldn’t handle anymore pain, thought this was going to end me (no fear of death but just wanted to get moving with it).

Could be they entrapped even the Vegas nerve during surgery, or some other nerve? Muscle at rib attachment was extremely rigid and inflamed, and is during these events. Bile is likely backing up from odid’s sphincter into stomach (?) - must have thrown up several cups of bile (not stomach acid). Doctors say it’s not possible but my body disagrees - this fluid was something I’ve never known before (and my stomach to my esophagus never ached or burned). This wasn’t an upset stomach and only right upper and right mid quadrant we’re ever in pain.

They released me after four days and said they couldn’t help any more. They put me on Amitriptyline and Gabapentin (again), and gave me a small amount of Ativan (‘just in case the worst spasms/pain occur‘, they said). They want me to go to a pain clinic for a nerve block shot in the abdomen. What will that cost and will it even work?

Does anyone at Mayo have experience with what appears to be chronic and intensely acute spasm and nerve pain or damage post-op cholecystectomy? I can’t support my family living moment-to-moment in fear of another attack.

I look forward to some idea in handling nerve and/or biliary pain. Thank you for this forum!